Calliandra californica
A compact, fine-textured evergreen to deciduous shrub reaching three to five feet tall and wide, with delicate ferny bipinnate foliage on an open, airy frame. It thrives in full sun and very low water once established, handling heat, reflected sun, and lean well-drained soils with ease. Brilliant red powderpuff flowers, made of long showy stamens, bloom nearly year-round in warm spells and are a strong magnet for hummingbirds. Specify it for low-water and desert-style plantings, pollinator and habitat gardens, informal borders, and hot exposures where long bloom and drought toughness matter.